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Post by Timber Butte Outdoors on Jul 19, 2012 11:11:23 GMT -7
On Tuesday July 17, 2012, Bob took George out to the sandhills to hunt badgers. George had never taken a badger, and was looking for his first kill. Well it happened today: Not only did George kill his first, but he also got his second the same day. They said that they saw 6 badger, and took 4 of them seen. George got 2 and Bob got 2. 1st badger..22-250 60 gr V-max, 2nd badger...223 55 gr V-max and 3rd badger..223 55 gr Nosler Varmint BT........ George's second badger, long shot for a .223 but it reached out.... Geo. Here is George's First Badger - Congratulations George!   Here is George's Second Badger.  Heres Bob with George's Second.  Bob with one that he shot.  Bob had shot another one, but slid down the hole, out of arms reach. Notice that George didn't grab any of those badgers and held them up for the camera - too stinky for him??? I guess! HAHAHAHA! Congrats again George. We are proud of you. You are now a serious varmint hunter! Maybe we can get one of them to chime in with a little bit of a story?? What do you think??? Good Hunting. Gary |
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Post by idaho220hunter on Jul 19, 2012 15:11:18 GMT -7
Yep was a good day....Bob is something else when it comes to spotting badgers.....we probably spotted 7 or 8..one was digging away in a burned area...we stopped, started to try and pick him/her up in our scopes but being senior citizens (lol) were were a little slow.....spotted us and scooted into the nearest hole....we stood there, skunked by a badger.......looking forward to the next outing.
Geo.
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Post by broper on Jul 19, 2012 17:32:38 GMT -7
Yeah, we saw eight and shot four. I call it our 50% hunt. I was glad to see George get his first badger. That second badger George shot was about 300 yds. with the 55 gr. Nosler Ballistic tip. It made a really ugly entrance hole and no exit. I would say it's not to fur friendly. The first one he shot was closer and with 55gr. v-max, couldn't find an entrance and no exit. The one I recovered, shot with 60 gr. v-max wasn't to bad, hit in the side of the neck and came out lower neck/upperchest, small caliber size entrance and about 1" exit. For some reason these badgers didn't smell to bad. The ones Eric and I shot were really bad, I think they'd have out stunk a skunk! Very bad. Anyway, George and I had a good, fun day in the badger fields.
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Post by Eric on Jul 22, 2012 20:26:36 GMT -7
Nice Shooting! I had it in my mind that the badgers were down for the season with this heat. Glad to be proven wrong on that thought  |
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Post by broper on Jul 24, 2012 5:11:17 GMT -7
I'm not sure but I don't think they actually go down for long periods or hibernate. They're pretty much out all year, I have seen one or two in the middle of winter. I think they're just more active at certain times of the year. From what I understand, a couple months in the summer is their breeding season and that's when they're most active.
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Post by Timber Butte Outdoors on Jul 24, 2012 13:39:54 GMT -7
Badger prefer to remain under ground during really hot times and during the cold times, because underground temps remain constant at 52-55 degrees year round. I am not saying that they will not come out during these times.
I have seen badgers out in the hot August heat, chasing, catching, and eating grasshoppers.
And I have like Nick said, I have called badgers during the winter, while calling coyotes.
During the times when the ambient temps are in the 55 to 75 degrees, is when the female badgers will come above ground to evict the youngsters from the dens, after they have been whined. Then the young are out looking for their own territory to settle and to find a mate(s).
Also during that time, the male badger are on the prowl for females that have come into season. Because as soon as the female has whined the young, she come back into esturus, and ready for a new brood.
But as the daytime temps rise, they will retreat back underground until the sun begins to set, and the temp once again begin to cool off.
Also, the badgers main food items (whistlepigs) live underground. I am sure that they also encounter other food sources underground, such a moles, voles, worms, grubs, and bugs. Who knows, that maybe they may even snack on roots and tubers, when times are slim.
Also, badger prefer the driest areas. If there is green grass in the area - there will not be badgers there. Badger don't like to dig in wet ground - it gums up their digging equipment.
Good Hunting
Gary
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